Environment

Public Outcry Over Duke Energy Coal Ash Spill Puts Pressure on NC Regulators

by Keri Brown

Duke Energy has 32 coal ash ponds on 14 sites around the state. Several environmental groups, including the Yadkin Riverkeeper, the Dan River Basin and the Waterkeeper Alliance are concerned about the impact on drinking water because most of these coal ash disposal sites are unlined. Waterkeeper Alliance Inc.

After weeks of downplaying a massive coal ash spill that made its way into the Dan River near Eden, North Carolina regulators issued violation notices Monday to five more Duke Energy power plants. The violations are in addition to two citations late last week.

The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources also described the Feb. 2 spill as an “environmental disaster.”  Justin Catanoso is a regular contributor to WFDD and has been following the story. He sat down with WFDD's Keri Brown to talk about the latest developments.

Justin Catanoso is the director of the journalism program at Wake Forest University.

Recent Articles By Catanoso about the coal ash spill:

http://bit.ly/1hGVE9r

http://bit.ly/1dqCbJa

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